Harry Reid’s latest gaffe revealed when it could really hurt

President Barack Obama stands with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., at a fundraising event at Caesars Palace in May. Both share an increasingly close bond. Obama relies on Reid to move the White House’s agenda through the Senate. Reid needs Obama to motivate Democrats to hit the polls.

Beyond the Sun

The substance and tone was more Joe Biden than Trent Lott, but that did not make Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s comments about Barack Obama being “light-skinned” and speaking with “no Negro dialect” any better for the embattled Nevadan.

Reid set off a firestorm Saturday for yet another impolitic remark, this one uttered privately during the 2008 presidential election season and recounted in a new book “Game Change,” due out Tuesday.

The remark could haunt Reid during his re-election bid this year and diminish his ability to turn out a dispirited Democratic base. A Review-Journal poll Saturday showed just one in three Nevadans approving of his job performance — his lowest rating yet.

That Reid speaks frankly and often makes gaffes is well known. But the insensitive remarks on race are new terrain for the Democratic leader who is seen as a longtime champion of civil rights, and not a racist.

In fact, Reid made the comments while praising Obama’s viability as a candidate — a presidential contender he worked behind the scenes to support even earlier than had been known — as early as 2006 — despite his publicly professed neutrality in the Democratic primary. Many said Saturday that lost in the controversy is the context in which Reid made the remarks: He was working to help elect the nation’s first black president.

Reid set out Saturday from his home in Searchlight to quell the furor, dialing up Obama, civil rights leaders and elected officials in Nevada and Washington to apologize. He told some he was embarrassed by his remarks.

“I deeply regret using such a poor choice of words,” Reid said in a statement. “I sincerely apologize for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans, for my improper comments.”

The quick responses showed both the toxic power of such racially-loaded words — and the depth of Reid’s support among black leaders in both Washington and Nevada.

Obama accepted his apology “without question.”

The Rev. Al Sharpton said the comments, while not the best choice of words, should not “distract from the unquestionable leadership role Reid has played” on civil rights.

State Sen. Steven Horsford, the Democratic majority leader in the Nevada Senate, said he gave Reid his forgiveness.

Steven Horsford

“Harry Reid called me today and apologized for an unfortunate comment reported today,” Obama said in statement. “I accepted Harry’s apology without question because I’ve known him for years, I’ve seen the passionate leadership he’s shown on issues of social justice and I know what’s in his heart. As far as I am concerned, the book is closed.”

Said Sharpton: “Sen. Reid’s door has always been open on hearing from the civil rights community on these issues and I look forward to continue to work with Sen. Reid wherever possible to improve the lives of Americans everywhere.”

But Republicans in Washington invoked the racially insensitive comments made in 2002 by Lott, then a Republican Senate leader, that led to his resignation from the leadership post.

In Nevada, Republican candidates running against Reid piled on.

“Harry Reid’s remarks are offensive to all Americans,” said Republican Sharron Angle, the conservative former state assemblywoman. “I am disgusted, though not surprised that Reid thinks like this.”

Norman Ornstein, a congressional scholar at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, said Reid’s “inartful” comments were “the last thing he needs, obviously, at this particular time.”

Most jarring for some was his use of the word Negro — not quite the “N-word,” but a close contender. The word has come to be considered a racial slur.

At 70, Reid is part of an older generation. He has an iPod and a BlackBerry, but he may not be quite as aware of cultural changes over the years, some observed.

Reid’s comments sounded more like Biden’s insensitive gaffe about then-candidate Obama — that he was “articulate and bright and clean” — than Lott’s racially insensitive remarks.

Lott, the former Republican Senate leader, said that if former Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina had won the presidency when he ran on the segregationist Dixiecrat ticket in 1948, the country “wouldn’t have had all these problems over the years.”

In Washington on Saturday, there was little talk of Reid’s leadership position being in jeopardy as Congress returns to session next week and continues work on the health reform bill, Obama’s top domestic priority.

Reid’s colleagues believe the Nevadan’s heart is in the right place, even if his word choice does not always reflect that.

Still, the matter may pose a problem in ethnically diverse Nevada. Black voter turnout was huge in 2008 — 77 percent, among the highest in the nation — and Hispanic residents make up a continuously growing block of voters.

Reid needs to mobilize a disenchanted Democratic base in Nevada in November, and has little margin for error in turning out voters from core constituencies.

Democrats say privately that Reid’s comments do not help his uphill electoral battle. But some said there is time to heal the rift with the election months away and other issues in economically depressed Nevada are more pressing.

Support from black leaders will help Reid rebound, some believe.

“What my constituents, regardless of race, are concerned about are jobs, economic recovery, the foreclosure crisis and how we’re going to get health care — that’s what Sen. Reid has been fighting for,” Horsford said.

“Actions speak louder than words,” Horsford said. “In the end he’ll be judged on the issues, not on an unfortunate statement he regrets making.”

But the story is likely to remain in the spotlight, if Republicans can help it.

Republican Danny Tarkanian, the UNLV basketball star-turned-businessman who is challenging Reid, said the senator “disgraces himself almost monthly with some disparaging remark about his constituents, political opponents, or now the president.”

Reid encouraged Obama to run early on, despite his stated neutrality as Hillary Clinton and the other Democrats jousted during the primary campaign.

Once Obama became the Democratic nominee, “Sen. Reid worked every day to make sure Barack Obama became president,” said Horsford, who was the chairman of Obama’s campaign in Nevada.

Today, Reid and Obama share an increasingly close bond. Obama relies heavily on Reid to move his agenda through the Senate, and Reid will lean on Obama to help motivate Democrats to the polls in fall.

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"The substance and tone was more Joe Biden than Trent Lott, but that did not make Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's comments about Barack Obama being "light-skinned" and speaking with "no Negro dialect" any better for the embattled Nevadan"

The substance and tone was more Joe Biden than Trent Lott - HARRY REID is far more of a IDENITY polictican then those two

-------------------------

Harry helped to railroad Trent Lott out of Washington

Now it is time to get rid of TOO BIG TOO FAIL Harry Reid

Reid only apologized for a poor choice of words NOT the DEED. Harry Reid believed what he said just a poor choice of words.

What Harry Reid basically is said is light-skinned Obama speaks "with no African-Americans [Negro] dialect, unless he wanted to have one,"

In the R-J (11-30-08) Reid said "My standing in Nevada is one where people know I've been a partisan. From now on I'll be able to project a kinder, gentler persona. My role is going to change. I'll be able to return to the person I previously have been." This from a man so ruthless and feared that even Sig Rogich will not cross him. Harry will turn on a friend (like Jon Porter) at the drop of statement of principle by a Republican.

Showing his contempt for the people in the "People's House" Reid's take at the official dedication for the Capitol Visitor Center 12-2-2008, as he quipped that "In the summertime, because the high humidity and how hot it gets here, you could literally smell the tourists coming into the Capitol."

Al Sharpton can forgive Harry Reid but not Trent Lott Rush Limbaugh or Don Imus. Al you should force Harry out or you will look like a pompus ass. This is totally crazy what is good for one is not the same for the rest.

Lisa Mascaro writes: "At 70, Reid is part of an older generation. He has an iPod and a BlackBerry, but he may not be quite as aware of cultural changes over the years, some observed."

"Some" observed? Like who? I want names. I'll bet Lisa Mascaro just put that in there so she can spew excuse-making, rationalizing nonsense to save Scary Reid's sorry hide. "He may not be quite as aware of cultural changes over the years."

Oh, I get it. When Scary Reid is ramrodding silly socialist health-care takeover legislation through the Senate, he's a calm, cool, calculating operator and all Nevadans should get on our knees every day and give thanks that one of "our own" has such a powerful position in Washington.

Then when Scary Reid says some silly thing and uses the term "Negro," all of the sudden he's like your dullard grandpa who's trying to be hip, but just isn't equipped, but isn't he cute! Let's just dismiss it because, you know, Grandpa's old and he "may not be quite as aware of cultural changes over the years."

Lisa Mascaro once again shows that she has gotten way too close to the people she is supposed to be covering impartially. But I'm sure Brian Greenspun doesn't care about that. This is disgraceful "journalism."

According to the Sun - "Reid's comments sounded more like Biden's insensitive gaffe about then-candidate Obama -- that he was "articulate and bright and clean" -- than Lott's racially insensitive remarks."

This quote is not attributed to anyone, it is just the Sun's editorializing of a news story. Nice try, but Sir Harry's days as a Senator look to be over.

Once again we get treated to the the sight of liberals turning themselves into contortionists to explain away their hypocrisy when it comes to the issue of race in this country. The LVSun is doing it's best to help out Reid by invoking Trent Lott. The hypocrites in the liberal news media will claim that Lotts words had a sinister nature while good 'ol Harry's words where just a hardy-har-har Joe Biden type gaffe. And this douzy, Harry's old so the use of the word "negro" ain't so bad...lol. And the real hypocrites in all this -black Democrats- are all offering up "forgiveness" for Harry. And the fact that a race-baiting, jew-hating bigot like Al Sharpton is called upon for help shows just how morally bankrupt the Democrat party and their sycophants in the liberal news media truly are.

...Amazing!...Senator Reid can lie, connive, steal and bribe with impunity, but when it is discovered he once used the word 'negro' in reference to President Obama, he is the Devil incarnate...is it any wonder we have the society we have?...our current society is all about pereception and has completely disregarded real actions and results...we deserve whatever happens to us...

To be perfectly cynical, I have NO doubt some will call me a cynic now. However" Is I often say, it ain't cynical if it's TRUE!!! Still, I know unreasonably closed minded people who just want to use every waking opportunity to denigrate and destroy democrats at every turn and on every issue will purposely disagree with and try to "straw-man" argue what I am about to say" Nevertheless, here goes nothing: I am black and Senator Harry Reid is 1000% CORRECT!!! The recent ridiculous attempts to compare what Senator Trent Lott said and what Senator Reid said is the very definition of the proverbial apples and oranges red herring argument. In the case of Senator Lott, when he basically stated that the country would have been quote, "better off" under a Segregationist, President Strom Thurmond, most republicans asserted that Sen. Lott's comment was just his way of trying to "warm an old man's heart" on his birthday. The problem was that the comment was unacceptable because a high ranking government official was essentially endorsing and supporting a crime of blatant discrimination and oppression. On the other hand, Sen. Reid was posing the plausible, even likely possibility that darker skinned blacks who speak in so-called Ebonics are less likely to be electable, than whiter looking and articulate blacks. Again, I have to say that in my experiences as a light-skinned black, I would have to agree that Sen. Reid is 1000% correct, especially so in the south, in places like my home state Florida!! Although I am even lighter than Obama (some say almost white) and have on occasion been called the "N" word too, I have to admit that my light skin has OFTEN afforded me a pass over my darker brethren, who are too often treated with malice or outright ignored. Case in point: I remember on one occasion when I and one my darker friends named Calvin we were both in the U.S. Army and stationed together in Colorado. I clearly recall a very frigid Thursday night when a white cab driver only wanted to let me ride and not him. I was so angry I was gonna' punch him in the face but Cal held me back and told me it's not worth it. He was right, but I still wanted to though!

This remark demonstrates the hypocrisy of the left. Had this been a Republican saying these things, they'd go after him with a vengence. It would not have mattered if this Republican had a "good civil rights record," the calls for his resignation would be shrill and constant. But because he's a hallowed Democrat, he's forgiven. Total hypocrites!!!!

In doing a search for Obama speech to the black community with a dialec, it appears they are being taken down quickly from Google. The White House is erasing them - they did exist. http://mersmanpolitical.blogspot.com/200...

Of course blacks can have all kinds of accents, Spanish, Caribbean, New York, Boston etc. One can identify people as white or black sometimes by their voice and not other times.

I can not wait to hear Gas bag Sean Insannity (who was kicked off the UC Santa Barbara Campus radio station for "homophobic remarks".. see Wikipedia) go into his phoney routine on this issue.

If we really want to cleans Nevada of racism, we should get rid of anything named after Howard Hughes or his family (i.e. Summerlin) and Cannon and McCarran, who were all a bunch of bigots. And what about UNLV's mascot?

This should get Reid more votes because most readers of the other paper in town, and the local hate talk stations, are racists, and this will appeal to their stereotyping.

leave Harry Reid alone. the comment he made was nothistorically, psychologically, socially, or politically (though he apologized anyway) incorrect. The USA is a complex country taintedby slavery and impatient Indian wars and relations.Is it not strange that african americans, hispanics, native americans, and asians have be mostly silent about this issue. It is only the party of no trying to stir up controversy on thisissue; but, minorities are not biting. For, minorities know about the color standards whitesset during and after slavery based on skin color.

And, the HON SEN REID was only assessing all variables involved in the probability of gettinghis candidate to the nomination and white house.what really ticks people off is that he was righton target in measuring the pulse of the masses inthe USA. He is just as accurate measuring theneeds of America on health care and other issues.

What is it with you people. We all know you hate anybody that is different than you. What I can't understand is what kind of person do you like? People that hate blacks...do they hate little black children? How can you hate a child? At what age does the little black child become a victim of your hatred? Same way with blacks. Do you hate all whites or just the ones that don't help you achieve your own goals. President Obama could not have been elected if white people didn't vote for him. There simply isn't enough black people for him to win. Most usually black people don't vote unless there is a black on the ballot. What's wrong with that picture? I really am ashamed of everybody. Pettiness is not a good quality.

Say its not so!!! If all of the posts from the people of the black persuasion are ok with it then its ok to call you a "negro" instead of an "african american"... So is it ok or not...Just wanted to know so next time someone get there panties pulled to tight over being called "negro",, then should I reference the word to being ok for harry to say...If not then why is it ok now....Just Wondering...

While one can simply say it was just a stupid comment (it was). Reid is always screaming the loudest when a Republican makes a "stupid comment". Demanding and usually forcing them out od office. The Republicans will usually distance themselves from one of their own that makes such comments. Reid is a racist arrogant jerk. Ensign is a dishonest philanderer. Hopefully Nevada voters will replace them both, first chance they get. The fact that Reid would even say that at all shows him for what he is.

if the truth is told, Obama probably has known andbeen told this by read in person in 2008 before theelections and the writers of this book are trying to generate sales for their book that is released this tuesday, 1/12/10. and the rightwingnuts are trying create something out of something that was discussed as campaign strategy in 2008.

without Janet Napolitano, Tom Daschle, Claire McCaskill, Harry Reid, Kathleen Sebeilius, and other early white supporters, Barak Obama would not be President. Does this fact close the door to this lunacy of the rightwingnuts. Also, Obama still has quite a bit left in his campaign fund that can be transferred to other democratic campaigns. Harry has earnedthe right to nis opinions.

Reid made a stupid comment but lets not forget the bigger things right now. Reid has made some crooked deals to cram down the senate health care bill.

I do think its funny that the political correctness wall that idiot Reid puts up might be what takes him down.

Everyone says stupid things that aren't true but it is funny to watch Reid get bit. I don't like Harry but I don't think he is racist. However, he has been such an a$$ any time someone else says something stupid that I believe he deserves any bad treatment he gets.

Reid is just setting the stage for the GOP to take back over in 2010, the liberals ran on empty promises and all they have done is spend our tax dollars for their pork projects, now it all is rearing its ugly head, this is just a small potatoes.

And yet again, the double standard of political correctness proves itself. You can blather on, elite media and Dems, but the simple fact is, if Lindsay Graham would have made the same remarks, big media, all you Dem ususal suspects, the "civil rights" leaders et. al, would be clamoring for his resignation. What's really sad and tragic to me, is, how, for decades the Democrats have completely fooled people, painting the right as the "racists" and themselves as the "champions of the people." As a person of color older than 30, it is especially ranklking to me.

Consider the following: The party that fought to preserve slavery: Democrats. The party that created Jim Crow laws: Democrats. The party that fought viciously against Title VII (Civil rights act if 1964): Democrats. Founders of the KKK: Southern Democrats. News flash: there were no Repbublican plantation owners. The Republican party was founded from some elements of the Whig and Free soil parties. It was, by and large the ABOLITIONIST party.

Now, there are many good people that are Democrats, but very few that I can think of that are in POWER. They pretend to be on our side, but in reality, they work hard to keep us fighting amongst ourselves, and what little they dole out, comes at the expense of everyone else. Now, they are perverting the Democratic process by ignoring the wishes of the people and creating legislation that will change the very fabric of this nation, in secret. Folks, remember, fascism comes from the LEFT.

And oh, my father was white, so I guess I'm "light skinned" too. But, Harry, I don't have any "Negro dialect." I don't even like hip hop or wear any bling. Have a nice retirement. We're done with you.

Hey Harry, What about the Jews and Mexicans? oops never mind the mexicans your giving away our country to, we know how you feel about them,but what about the Jews ? do they have a Jewish dialect ? and dont forget the Asians, seems if ya speak and look like Woody allen( I mean Harry Ried) you're okay in his book.

The Democratic Party = Hypocrites. Where are the people in this awful party calling for this jackass's head on a silver platter. This will come back to haunt them. Racism is alive and well AND tolerated in the Democratic Party.

Sen. Reid apologized for his remarks by acknowledging "his poor choice of words." So how should he have expressed his thoughts and beliefs? Maybe he should have said "Sen. Obama is only 50% black and can talk jive and come to Jesus inspiration when he needs to."

Sen. Reid will not step down and will continue his reelection bid. As a Nevada resident, it will be very satisfying to vote him out of office. The embarrassment that is Harry Reid will no longer be Majority Leader or a Senator in 2011. Praise Jesus and pass the hypocrite.

I try very hard to give them the benefit of the doubt! But with every ensuing day I am absolutely convinced that the VAST MAJORITY of right wingers like Sgt Rock are genetic errors. Parasites really, that are basically like talking to a dead rotten STICK !! I normally abhor violence, but in their case, If It were up to me? The craziest ones would be rounded up, put on a big desert island and dealt with the only way they themselves understand: NUKE EM'!!!! Then maybe the world can become what it was meant to be a thing of beauty and peace for a change. DAMN!!!... They are SO worthless because too many are TOTALLY & UTTERLY USELESS at ANYTHING REAL that would do anybody but their own cronies any good AT ALL!! The only things they are experts at are designed to destroy civility and even existence itself, PERIOD!!!!! They will stop at nothing to shamelessly lie and twist logic to attain greed and power at any cost! They don't even give a damned if it will actually destroy the only place they can live which is the planet EARTH itself! They will gladly use any vice to include torture, lies, hate, slander, and even yes" MURDER!! They achieve these things by regurgitating red herring positions that attempt to hide (And poorly I might add) their bigotry and self-serving; power hungry ambitions. They don't care about anything that is not negative or destructive in some form! I firmly believe that they are only against abortion so they can have more poor people to send to the frivolous wars they start in the name of GOD!!! They constantly attack anything that makes them take a big look in the Mirror because they know they are evil and they don't like it!! So listen up Right Wrongers!!!; The gig is up!! Call us all the names you want!! We'll wear them as badges of honor because the rest of us sane liberals and moderates who want results in the world are finally waking up to your verbal terrorism and will NEVER let phony psychos like George Bush Sarah Palin or Dick Cheney ruin the world EVER AGAIN! So stop trying to compare what Harry Reid said to the Dixicrat nonsense of Trent Lott We won't take the bait because there is nothing there! Besides the truth ain't a double standard!! The bottom line is that most white democrats actually care about people of color so when they make off color racial remarks most thinking people with good HONEST common sense realize it was probably an HONEST mistake! That was NOT the case with someone like Trent Lott who you all KNOW very well that he really MEANT what he said about segregation. The problem is most of you won't admit you agree with him because you know it will ruin your chance of what you all want most: CONTROL and POWER and MONEY!! In fact I didn't buy it a second that the republican party was really MAD with what Lott had said when they kicked him out of the Senate. They were typical right wing opportunists covering their butts by killing two birds with one stone.

So what if he would have had a problem with Obama if he was darker or spoke with negro dialect. We can overlook that.

He is A-OK because he came out released a letter in support of Nevada's Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage and voted for DOMA and has not push for DOMA overturn or for Obama to rescind Don't Ask Don't Tell. Both the light skin Obama and Reid are against gay marriage anyway and believe that each state should determine its laws on the matter.

So let me see if I got this: Right wingers can call leftees every lie and/or derogatory name they can think to utter and that's OK. But anyone who calls them the idiots they are is wrong? OK I see!! How dare them liberals call a duck a duck!! Don't they know? Us rightees are suppose to dish it out but we ain't suppose to TAKE IT DAMMIT!!!

As just plain dumb as that comment was I found his use of the word "evilmongers" to describe ordinary Americans destestable. But he certainly doesn't seem to have much respect for the intelligence of the American electorate. November can't come soon enough.

Out of all of the many people I know, of all professions and classes, there isn't a single one I can think of who would vote for a mahogany-dark candidate or one who spoke in Ebonics. Look at the singer Seal --- an intelligent, well-spoken man --- who couldn't possibly get elected because he's too dark. Think back to any black person you've been around who axes a question, who uses a plural verb when a singular is required: "she sure enough know her stuff." There's not a chance you would ever take them seriously. Every survey of voters says we want a politician who is a straight shooter, someone who tells the truth; when a politician says something most of us know & feel anyhow, Political Correctness kicks in. In 21st century America, we require our politicians to be two-faced, to project the proper image and walk the very thin P.C. line. I have no use for Reid or his son, but the man told the truth, and now it's being used against him.

You have so many holes in your comments and you make conclusions without supporting evidence.

I don't think that Reid is Racist but he thrives on creating and keeping racial tension. Harry has called people that don't agree with him on the bills he hasn't even read "racist". NomorePC is right on with the PC comments. Reid did this to himself when he has made Race an issue when it is not.

I understand that there is always another side of an argument but it would be nice if people like truenotcynical would have a point instead of rants.

I know its hard to focus on what is really happening and it is very hard to let go of Bush, but remember he is gone.